Plantworx and Primary Engineer team up to inspire Engineers of the Future

The biennial Plantworx Construction Equipment Exhibition and the CEA have once again teamed up with educational organisation, Primary Engineer, to work with primary schools in the Peterborough area, on a new and exciting STEM construction project.

Plantworx and the CEA first began working with Primary Engineer in 2015 and have since funded hundreds of potential young engineers from local schools – inspiring our future engineers. However, this will be the first year that a ‘Construction Project’ has been introduced where the children will be tasked, using STEM skills, to create a dumper truck or a tower crane, which is very exciting – particularly in a Plantworx year! The presentation and judging of the school projects will be held at Plantworx on Thursday 15th June 2023 as part of the ‘Student Day’.

Andrew Norris, Head of Partnerships, Central and East England, Primary Engineer said, “It is wonderful to once again be working with Plantworx and the  CEA to provide opportunities to demonstrate the power of engineering to children in the Peterborough area.  Primary Engineer will train the teachers and bring engineering professionals into the classrooms to demonstrate that engineering is a career for everyone.  It is also fantastic that the pupils participating will be able to visit Plantworx, be wowed by the equipment on show, and hopefully go back to their studies with a clear goal of making a difference in the world through engineering.”

Engineering Skills

There is a well-documented drive to increase the number of young people engaging with STEM as a precursor to careers in the sector. Within this ambition is the awareness that the number of females attracted to engineering and science is not increasing sufficiently to make an impact on the gender balance in the sector.

The Primary Engineer Construction project provides both KS1/P2-3 and KS2/P4-7 teachers and pupils with creative, practical projects using construction engineering as the vehicle.

The training comprises two teachers per school. Teachers make models on the course to use in the classroom. They are given an understanding of the curriculum links and access to the Primary Engineer Virtual Learning Environment where teaching resources can be found.

“Working in teams, the students will build their projects, which will form part of the school curriculum. The best teams will then present their designs at Plantworx on Thursday 15^th of June as part of the Student Day where they will be judged by a team of engineers and event sponsors.”